In the past year Category 4 has been developing a lot of Wordpress-based web sites for our clients. We recently decided to expand our reach by developing some free custom themes. Our first free theme, “Probama” went live for public download today. It’s a theme for bloggers who want to support Barak Obama and his campaign for President. In addition to a beautiful visual style, it includes some cool features, such as:

• Control panel options for Flickr, Youtube and Feedburner
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• RSS integration with BarackObama.com
• Additional print.css stylesheet

You can learn more about the theme and download it from the Cat4 site.

WHERE: Kaleidoscope Room in Newcomb Hall, on the main grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. (#30 on this map.)

WHEN: March 13, 14, 15, 16. Events begin at 7 p.m. on the first three nights and 5 p.m. on the final day.

FILMS:

• Thursday March 13 at 7 p.m.: The Ground Truth

The film’s director and producer Patricia Foulkrod will lead a discussion following this stunning look at the lives of veterans of the occupation of Iraq.

• Friday March 14 at 7 p.m.: In the Valley of Elah

This Academy Award nominated film stars Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon, and is based on a true story of veterans of the Iraq occupation. Stephen Sossaman and Bob Hoffman of the local chapter of Veterans for Peace will lead a discussion following the film.

• Saturday March 15 at 7 p.m.: Leading to War

This just-released film shows us how the architects of the invasion of Iraq led a nation into war. Here is an opportunity to hear them make their case for war in their own words. A discussion will follow.

• Sunday March 16 at 5 p.m.: The Power of Nightmares (three one-hour films with intermissions)

This BBC film trilogy draws comparisons between Neocons and Islamists and argues that the threat of al Qaeda is largely a myth used by politicians. A discussion will take place between 1-hour segments.

For additional information, visit the CCPJ website.

As has been reported, the City of Charlottesville has entered into a Land Lease with the Piedmont Family YMCA that provides for the construction of a community recreation center within McIntire Park. A provision of this land lease requires the City to conduct a master plan process that will determine the exact location of the YMCA within this portion of McIntire Park. This process will produce a conceptual master plan that will:

1) Locate the YMCA facility within a pre-defined area on the west side of McIntire Park

2) Identify other potential recreational improvements on the west side of McIntire Park reflecting the needs and values of the community.

To that end, upon completion of a six week Request for Proposal (RFP) process, the City has retained the services of a landscape architectural firm. Rhodeside-Harwell will assist the City in facilitating a community-driven process that will update the park master plan for the portion of McIntire Park west of the Norfolk Southern Railway. The March 4 meeting is only the first of several community engagement meetings designed to create open discussion of this project. The current schedule is as follows:

Community Engagement Meeting Schedule:

• March 4, 2008: General Public Meeting – City Council Chambers 6:30pm; Agenda below
• April 12, 2008: Design Charette* – 9am – 12noon; Open to the Public (location to be determined)
• May 6, 2008: General Public Meeting – 3:30-7:30pm; Open House to review Draft Master Plan (location to be determined)
• May 19, 2008: Presentation to City Council of Final Master Plan; Adoption

Additionally, youth and teen focus groups will be held in partnership with Schools, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Public Housing Sites, and Recreation Center participants in late March and early April.

Additional and ongoing information about this and other City Parks projects can be found at Charlottesville.org/parks.

*(I had to look this up, but according to Dictionary.com, a Charette is “a final, intensive effort to finish a project, esp. an architectural design project, before a deadline.)

Agenda

6:30 – 6:45 — Sign in and Browse

6:45 – 7:00 — Welcome and Introductions
Dave Norris, Mayor
Project Team Mike Svetz
• Project Background and Purpose
• Project Parameters

7:00 – 7:20 — Presentation: Existing Conditions and Site Planning Options

7:20 – 7:30 — Audience Comments/Questions

7:30 – 7:40 — Give Us Your Opinions
Review options and complete questionnaire

7:40 – 8:10 — Discussion Of Options

8:10 – 8:15 — Next Steps

Questions or comments? Please email recservices@Charlottesville.org

U.Va. Officials Give Update on Medical Center Plans

On Tuesday, March 4, the University of Virginia will host “Changing the Health Care Landscape: A Preview of New Facilities at U.Va.’s Medical Center.” Designed to give residents an update on Medical Center plans, the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Rivanna/Albemarle Room of the Courtyard Marriott located at 1201 West Main St.

At the meeting, R. Edward Howell, Vice President and CEO of the Medical Center, will describe how the new buildings and new technologies reflect the changing face of medicine.

In addition, Luis Carazzana, a senior facility planner in the University’s Office of the Architect, will describe the buildings and infrastructure that will support the new Medical Center model.

The meeting, scheduled to run from 7 to 8 p.m., will include displays, resource guides and light refreshments. Ample free parking is available at the Courtyard Marriott.

To offer suggestions of topics for discussion or to gain more information, please contact U.Va.’s Community Relations Office at 924-1321 or via communityrelations@virginia.edu.

Citizen information meeting
Old Lynchburg Road Safety, Sidewalk, & Drainage Project

Tuesday, March 4, 2008
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cherry Avenue Christian Church
1720 Cherry Avenue
Charlottesville, VA 22903

The City of Charlottesville is excited to invite you to attend an informational meeting about the improvement to the Old Lynchburg Road corridor from the South City Limits to Jefferson Park Avenue. Come and see preliminary plans and share your ideas and concerns. This meeting will be most constructive with all participants present for the entire duration. Representatives from the City of Charlottesville and the Consultant Study Team will be on hand to discuss and receive input on a variety of citizen concerns including drainage, traffic calming, and pedestrian/ bicycle facilities.

Project information including displays showing the proposed preliminary design and potential property impacts will be available at the meeting.

If you have any questions, please contact Tony Edwards, City Engineer, at 970-3182 or email Tony at edwardst AT charlottesville.org.

What happens if I press this?

Chief Tayac has been an Indian activist for several decades, participating in many indigenous struggles, including Wounded Knee, Gankineh, Big Mountain, OK’a, Gustafson Lake, and the Salvadorian Indian and Ecuadorian Indian Movements. Chief Billy Tayac is currently working to assist Spanish speaking Indians who are suffering a new era of economic invasion resulting from NAFTA and the unregulated practices of many multinational corporations based in the US. Once again Indian people are being forced off their land. Chief Tayac is a voice for Indian people everywhere and an inspiration to all of us.

Additional information can be found at the AISU website.

News of a CCPJ Feb. 24th event can be found at this post.

If you don’t have $30 burning a hole in your pocket, but still want to spend at least part of the evening with like-minded folk, then you may wish to attend an alternative event titled “Left of Center on Local Food”. LOC is a group for the young Dem-curious, and this event focuses on the local food movement. Left of Center can be found on the web at LeftofCenterCVille.org.